About Us
Community Oriented Correctional Health Services (COCHS) was founded in 2006. It was originally funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. COCHS is a non-profit organization that works to build connectivity between jails and community health care providers. Our mission is to integrate community healthcare with correctional healthcare. Other organizations that have given generous support to COCHS' mission include: the Public Welfare Foundation, the Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation, the California Healthcare Foundation, and the California Endowment.
Hampden County, Massachusetts
The Promise Story
The model for COCHS work originated in Hampden County, Massachusetts (Springfield). Former Sheriff Ashe brought community health providers into his jail because he understood that inmates were temporarily displaced community members and continuity of care was important for their successful re-entry.
The Promise Story is a short video describing how Hampden County fosters partnerships between local jails and community health providers.